Hermeneutics

Apologetics, Eschatology, Exegesis & Hermeneutics
(Description)

20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. (1Tim 6:)

Don't look at me like that, I didn't make those words up! They're just some of the words Theologians use to make us common folk think they know what they're talking about.

Now me, I don't know what they're talking about, or even what book they're talking about. They call it the Bible, and they quote from the Bible all right - but I sure don't read the Bible like they do.

But I have to keep in mind that they've been educated, poor souls. Instead of criticizing them, I should be pitying them. When I think of all the junk they pour into the heads of the poor scholars (especially these days with the World View even taught in Christian halls of learning) I get the willies. I should just be thankful that I is one of the unedjicated ones is all.

"But Mom, Everybody's doing it!!"

It used to be that parents could counter such an argument with; "If everybody was jumping off a cliff, would you?"

Now the kids would say "yes," and bring out their bungee cord.

Everybody's doing it is the reason most people do what they do. In the '40's and '50's the concept started with the popularizing of commercialism. It was called; "keeping up with the Jones'es."

It didn't start then, I'm sure. I have no doubt that Adam was checking out Eve's fig leaves to see if he could do her one better.

No one likes to be left out in the cold, unless being out in the cold is your "thing," or the "thing," of what ever group you hang out with, like the Polar Bear Society.

I doubt kids have to whine very much any more to get what they want. I think parents give in before the kids even have a chance to beg, and that is why we see so many kids with more rings hanging from their body than a jewelry shop, and tattoos in place that parents aren't even supposed to look. So I wonder who's looking?

"Any fool can see that what I'm saying is so. And only a dummy would disagree. Don't you agree?"

Do you agree? Of course you would. Even if the subject in question concerns the moon being made of green cheese.

You may very well disagree in your heart, but the chances are very strong that your mouth is being agreeable.

We don't like to be looked down on, even by fools. This is one of the tools the Elders used to try and shut up Jesus and the Apostles. When it didn't work, they used threats of violence (which they carried out).

"You don't agree? That's because you're homophobic."

Again the subject may be green cheese, but the accusation is the same. Learning what is "Right" is not what people want. It's being called right that we desire. Being right requires listening. Being called right requires having the biggest club and doing the most brow beating.

In the past, being called a homosexual was the last thing a person wanted, even if they were homosexual. Now, what you are is of little consequence, it's being against anything, even murder, that is the unforgivable sin.

Another accusation thrown at disagreers is "prejudiced," or "Intolerant."

Toss any of these words into a conversation and you are sure to have everyone agree with you. It's the rule of the day.

Incidently, what I have said is not an indictment for or against Intolerance, Prejudice, or Homosexuality. My purpose is to expose our ability to be manipulated by words.

"My church believes.........."

Here's someone who is not interested in Truth in any form. He accepts whatever he is told is true. Chances are he is very well educated and used to only accepting what his teachers say is true.

I suspect that most of the world is this way. It's much easier to find someone with answers (right or wrong) and follow them than it is to research these things out for ourself.

It's not only in church that we do this, but in life in general.

Of course we learn this first of all from our parents, who we either must obey, or rebel against. Then we learn it from school, where we either pass or fail accordingly. Then from the Military, and our job, for obvious reasons.

The only times we might state a contradictory opinion is with our wife or our kids, and maybe to our neighbor. But, as demonstrated above regarding tattoos and rings, it is likely your opinion, if expressed, will be ignored.

"Joe Blow says they have positively discovered that the moon is made of green cheese."

"Oh, if Joe says so, than it must be so."

Let us say that you are not one who just believes what you are told, but has confidence in your belief. Let's say that in your research you have found someone you fundamentally agree with, and now rely heavily on their opinion.

This is easy to do. And for a long time I did just that. After all, the person we are depending on has (we suppose) a great deal of time and experience and resources that we do not have. It's the same reason we do not perform open heart surgery on ourself. (Well, there are other reasons too, I suppose, but you get my drift.)

A problem arises when we follow a particular person's view. The Jim Jones incident is one extreme example, but a more subtle one lies in the heart of the one who has been deemed an expert.

"You are a leading expert on the Bible, Dr. Smith, what do you think of.........."

"Um, well a, it's like this ......"

When Moses was forty days on Mt. Sinai talking to God, the people became restless and wanted a leader. Who was more qualified than the Head Priest to be that leader?

Aaron was enlisted by the people as the "expert" on God, and was supposedly the one who had connections with God.

But the people who voted Aaron in as head honcho did not want him to do any thinking, they wanted him to confirm that what they wanted to do was ok.

Prophets have been in this situation often, and lost their heads when they told a king what God said instead of what the king wanted to hear.

The people wanted a golden calf, so rather than look bad in the eyes of his adoring public, Aaron built them a calf.

"What did they do to you, Aaron," Moses asked.

They gave him authority. And someone who has been given authority without responsibility finds it very hard to form the words; "I don't know."

"Apologetics, Eschatology, Exegesis and Hermeneutics."

Big words sound intelligent. The bigger the words, and the more we use them, the more it intimidates those we speak to. It's a good way to get people to agree with you, because they don't know what you're talking about.

The Catholic church used this for centuries. Latin sounds religious; like the King James English sounds Biblical. That's why anyone who wants to write something, or interpret something, uses the KJ English to do so. Who can question it? It sounds so godlike.

When my ego was at its highest, and my knowledge at its lowest, I wrote poetry and prose. It wasn't too bad, but it served no better purpose than to satisfy my pride.

My interest was not to edify others who might read what I wrote (though I thought everyone should read it); my purpose was to show everyone how smart I was, how intellectually superior I had become.

I made heavy use of the dictionary, not to make sure I was using the correct word, or to insure I had spelled a word correctly. No, my need was to make sure I was using the biggest, most highfaluting word possible.

Would that I could say I was the only one who has ever done this.

"You done told a good joke there, son, but I's gonna' do you one better."

"You should'a seen the one that got away. It was this big!"

At Bible Conventions there's always a large number of Commentators, Theologians and Pastors on the docket to speak. One Speaker will get up and give his lecture, then another, and so on.

As with any other activity, each speaker desires to outshine the ones who have gone on before.

There are several ways to accomplish this. The easiest, of course, is to have the best reputation. The better your reputation, the less you have to say and everyone will hang on your every word.

Like a famous baseball player from bygone days, he does not have to speak long, or play hard in order to win public appeal; all he has to do is wave at his fans and he gets a standing ovation.

But that reputation does not come by birth. It had to be won. And to win it, many opponent's back have been left with his footprints.

In sports, and most other endeavors, there is little consequence for cheating or mangling the rules.

But when it comes to the Word of God, the consequences can be extreme - for the mangler, and for those who take stock in his words.

It is said (I do not have evidence, so therefore can only further spread gossip) that Darwin recanted his theory of Evolution and wanted it withdrawn. But like the big businesses that have built their reputation and their wealth on lies, those who were benefitting from the falsehood would not hear of it and tried to shut him up.

Whether this is true or not, the point that the story illustrates is valid, and all too common.

Jesus fell under the same condemnation. Truth was not the issue. Money and Respect was.

The second way a speaker can try for one-upmanship is to be the better speaker. Few fit that bill. So those who do not have the skill, or a reputation try to stir their audience into excitement.

Many, if not most of those who attend these conventions (including the speakers) are looking for something new. Preachers and Commentators and Theologians need new and interesting material to present to their listeners. How many people would put up with listening to the same thing over and over? Especially these days with all forms of media and entertainment competing for our attention.

The Bible is not new; nor can it be changed in order to suit our desire for entertainment. However, it can be described and explained in new and different ways. And we would think this is what the great minds would strive for.

But they, as well as we, have "Itching Ears" anxious to hear something new, exciting and unique.

We want something that can compete with Disney and Science Fiction. We want something we can tell others, or at least believe ourself special for the knowing of it.

Like telling the best joke, or cooking the best cake, or even having the worst illness to talk about.

We have a wild streak, a competitive and selfish nature.

And Preachers, Commentators and Theologians have to work hard to satisfy this part of us.

Yet they must "stay in the Book."

That is a very hard thing to ask of anyone. So since the Words cannot be changed, for they are set in stone; these men of the Book must read between the lines, add a little and take a little, and connect dots that have no possible connection with one another.

And we eat it up.

Most of these stories fall to the wayside. Other stories are held as Heretical truths which occasionally have cults built around them. Several others make their way into the Mainstream Denominations and become Possibilities or maybe even Legends. And a few tell us what we want to hear, though contrary to the Bible so, unfortunately, even make it to the books as Doctrines.

"Your Pa's a Preacher man, what are you doin' here in jail?"

Living around sheep does not make you a sheep.

Living around sheep can make you look like a sheep. It can make you smell like a sheep. It can even make you act like a sheep. But being a true sheep requires a changing of the heart.

Judas spent three and a half years with sheep - walking and talking and learning the ways of the sheep. And though all the others had become sheep, Judas had not.

Living with sheep, and being required to act like sheep, can, in fact, make one rebel and turn into a wolf.

There have been many examples of this in the church world where young Gospel singers have made their reputation in Gospel and then turned their back on their Faith and their public.

One who comes to mind, though of the secular world, is Rick Nelson. He lived the life of a son in the most upstanding family of his time (at least in the public's eye), and gained his reputation accordingly. Yet, when his life became his own, he turned his back on his family, his public, and his image to be the person he apparently had been all along.

When we show our true colors, we expect everyone to just go on accepting us as if we were still the same.

Rick wrote and sang a song about just such a situation. He called it "Garden Party." In the song he expressed his hurt that his fans left him when he changed his image and genre. He did not seem to realize that they had not left him, but that he had in fact turned his back on them.

Young lovers who put their best foot forward, then once married they show themselves for who they truly are.

Highly respected Morality preachers who condemn others for their immorality, only to be uncovered as worse than those they have condemned.

Policemen and judges who come down hard on the public, then beg for mercy when they are caught doing the same thing.

Very few of us are what we purport to be, or even know who we really are. But honesty is what Jesus requires of us, and He wants us to turn ourselves over to Him so He can make it so.

Ministers and Theologians are just fallible mortals. In my mind, some just a bit more fallible, and a bit too clever for their, and our, good.

"Tradition? What tradition? That's not a tradition, that's the Word of God and always has been!?"

Some Traditions are untouchable. Their Sanctity may exist only in a single gathering, or it may be spread throughout the world and been entrenched for thousands of years.

But they are still Traditions.

Jesus, of course, had to deal with just such Traditions. And so do we.

In more "modern" times we have an example of this in the Catholic church.

The Pope, being "Infallible" (or at least having moments of infallibility) can add to the Bible what he wants to add, without touching the Bible itself. He reinterprets the meaning of a Scripture without necessarily changing the wording of it.

"That's terrible," you might say. "That's not what God wants us to do!"

On the surface that would appear correct. A possible problem with this thinking is that maybe the first meaning was wrong. But then, what does that say for "Infallibility"?

The Catholic church is not the only one to alter the meaning of Scripture by covering it with Tradition (called Doctrine, or Articles of Faith which is the same thing). Cults are notorious for changing their scriptures, and even the Bible itself by merely reinterpreting the Bible.

But that in itself is not particularly wrong, if it were, then anything beyond the first interpretation would all be wrong. (Whatever that translation might be, since most all translations have been interpreted from bits and pieces of other translations, scraps and letters).

And even if we, every one of us, had the Bible in hand, exactly as God intended it to be; and every commentator commentated precisely what the Bible said, it would do us no good.

Oral Traditions are those which are not written down, but are relayed verbally from one generation to another.

Many cultures have based their history and philosophies on just such a method.

In fact, it is considered that the bible was transferred this way before a written language was established.

I wonder what kind of Bible Noah had with him on the ark?

We hear very little of what we are told.

And we remember far less.

And that which we remember, we reinterpret to suit our self, and our own selfish desires.

"No! You can't take the car because you don't do your homework, you don't listen to me, and you don't do your chores; you don't even take out the trash. And that's final!"

"I asked Mom, and she said I can have the car after I take out the trash."

We hear the Truth as it pleases us. Every one of us is a microcosm of Traditions by which we live. And we seek out a leader that we agree with in order to support our own view.

Consider Aaron and the golden calf.

Or my father and his hamburger.

Or me with my poetry.

"That's God's Words, you can't argue with that!"

These are the "Fundamentals." They are usually listed as Articles of Faith; "This is what we believe."

They are usually not seen as Traditions, but rather as firm Words of God.

But even the Absolute Words of God can be disputed, and often are, usually by those who wish to banish them.

God wrote His Word in such a way that they can be interpreted any way we want to do so. He did this in order to give us "enough rope with which to hang our self" as the expression goes. God wants only those who diligently want to follow and obey Him; not those who feel they have to obey or else be punished, as He did with the Jews.

In order to have an organization, even an organization that calls itself "Anti-organizational," one must have rules by which to govern, and some agreement as to the reason for which the organization is formed.

Even a relaxing picnic has to be organized and have a common goal if it is to be successful.
Fundamentals are fine, if one keeps in mind that even cults have their Fundamentals.

Fundamentals create a bond that holds members together. But it can also be a chain with which to lock a person to an anchor that is about to be cast into the sea.

Most Traditions mean little to anyone, even to those who believe them. This, of course, is not true of everyone. Consider the Pharisees if you will. They took their Traditions so seriously that they were willing to kill to preserve them.

Another time Traditions are a problem is when they get in the way of, and hide the Truth. This was Jesus' complaint to the Pharisees; they covered the Word of God with their Traditions.

There are times in the Secular world that Traditions can create problems. However, there is little to nothing we can do about them. One example is the Tradition of Politicians not telling the truth. By the time the truth comes out, the damage has already been done.

The Medical field is another arena where Traditions can be the difference between life and death. Consider the times that a specific Wonder Drug has been announced, or where a certain product has been approved - only to discover years later that anyone who followed the Medical Profession's advice would be in great danger.

Then there's the Traditions being taught in the schools now. These Traditions would be laughable, had they not such tragic consequences.

However, only those who look to be deceived, will be deceived.

In the same way that a con man can only con someone who is looking to get something for nothing; Traditions can only deceive those who seek quick information without having to research for themselves.

God wrote His Gospels in three places. Yet we, being lazy and self-centered, look to others to "read" them for us.

The first of these is the Heavens. But instead of seeking God's message to us, we look to astrologers and witches who "peep and mutter" to find out what they have to say.

The second Gospel is God's Word, the Bible. It is written in two ways. It is written with pen and ink; and more importantly, it is written in the life of Jesus who has lived out the Gospels, illustrating what the Words mean.

And lastly, the Gospels have been written on the flesh of our hearts, where those who allow God to break up the stones, and turn our heart into a fertile field, will have the Seed of Life, that is the Holy Spirit, planted.

The Holy Spirit is the Interpreter of the Word for us, and instructs us of the Way to Christ and Eternal Life.

When we have all three Gospels in alignment, and the Holy Spirit guiding us - we then will understand the Gospels, and will have no need to seek the interpretations and traditions of others.

REFERENCES

4And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him. 5But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. (Mat 26:)

6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)

23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. (Acts 9):)

13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2Thes 2:)

Tumbleweed

Fantasies

Fantasies

8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)

Story one:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Smith, but your wife has an advanced cancer that is inoperable."

"How long does she have, Doctor? A month? A year? Will she suffer much? Should she be told?"

"There is no way of knowing just how long she has. It may be a few weeks, it may be years, but death is inevitable. Yes, it will most likely be painful. And yes, she should be told."

"My wife is very emotional, she won't take the news well. Will you tell her? She would hold it against me for the rest of her life if I told her."

"I could tell her, but I believe it would be insensitive for us to inform her in this way. I think you should be the one to tell her."


"What did the Doctor say, Dear? Am I going to die?"

"The doctor said you would be fine. You might experience a little pain, but not to worry about it."

"Will I need an operation?"

"No, the doctor said that wouldn't be necessary."

Story two:

"Mommy, my kitty died. I miss my kitty so much. What am I going to do without my kitty?"

"I know you miss your kitten, Honey, but don't worry, your kitten is in cat heaven. She's happy now playing with all the other kittens in heaven."

"But I miss my kitty, Mommy. Why can't I have her back?"

"We will get you another kitty to play with, Hon. And some day, if you are a good little girl, you will get to play with your kitty again when you get to heaven."

Fantasies are what we tell when we either do not know the truth, or are unable, or are unwilling to let the truth be known.

Fantasies are usually entertaining and serve no useful purpose. When we hear a fantasy, we know it is not true. When you and I encounter a fantasy, we enjoy it, then let it go.

In the stories above, the fantasies did no harm in themselves because nothing has been changed by the telling of them. The truth has been covered up, but the ones being told the fantasy are comforted.

"My doctor told me that my kind of cancer doesn't need an operation and that I will be ok in spite of it. He said I won't die or experience any pain."

"Oh, good. I have a cancer similar to yours, and my doctor told me I had to have an operation or I would die. But I trust your doctor's advice more, so I won't get the operation."

"My Mommy told me that there is a kitty heaven and that cats have a lot of fun up there, more fun than they do down here. And she said some day I will get to play with her again when I get to heaven."

"Oh, goody. My friend has some kitties that her father said he was going to drown. I thought that was awful, but if they are happier there, and if we'll get to see them again, maybe I can drown my kitties as well so they will be happy."

The stories are spreading, and getting more bazaar. They are also getting more dangerous.

Although one cancer victim can not be cured, another, who very well might be cured, takes the information she wants to hear and puts herself at risk.

The child, as children will believe anything, has taken a story of comfort and is well on the way to creating a mind set.

A Fantasy you say? For sure it is. And who would do what those in the story above have done?

My father, who was much overweight, did not like to eat vegetables. He liked meat. But every doctor he investigated told of the danger of meats.

Except one.

Guess who my father listened to.

My mother had cancer. She did not want to have an operation. She heard of a doctor in Mexico who advocated nothing but grape juice. My mother made many trips to Mexico to see this doctor, and followed his grape juice diet religiously - until she died of cancer.

Consider school shootings, the Two Towers, the Suicide Bombers, mothers who kill their children because they want to save them from this corrupt world. All these stemmed from a mind set where they took a fantasy and turned it into a reality.

On the other extreme, Edison, Einstein, the Wright Brothers and Disney took a Fantasy, a dream, and turned it into a reality.

A Fantasy, as long as it remains in the realm of Fantasy is of little danger. As long as nobody believes they can fall off a cliff and survive, as does the coyote in the roadrunner cartoons; or they can shoot someone, and that person will again reappear in the next western they watch - a Fantasy is harmless.

But our two Fantasies are well on the way to becoming more than mere fantasies; they are growing into Fables.

Fables are Fantasies that are taken seriously. Fables can be instrumental in explaining the unexplainable. Fables are unbelievable stories, that somehow are truly believed by many.

Fables have a moral attached to them. Fables teach at the same time they entertain. Fables are designed to make us think. On my website, the "Checkerboard" could well be classified as a group of Fables.

Jesus used Fables in the form of Parables (or allegories). Though His stories illustrated a Truth, and were based on factual situations, they were not necessarily true events in themselves.

In the case of the parables of Jesus, they not only illuminated Truth to the initiated, but hid Truth from the stubborn.

The Bible, in many ways and in many places warns us against Fables and "old wives tales." While fables can illustrate a Truth, they can also very easily make a Lie look appealing and honorable.

Consider Satan's story to Adam and Eve. A large part of what Satan said was the truth; but the little bit that wasn't the truth ("Ye shall not surely die") was their, and our downfall.

Fables can magnify the Truth, they can hide the Truth, or they can unveil the Truth. It depends on what we want to hear.

We have God trying to tell us the Truth; we have Satan telling us the lies we want to hear - and we stand in the middle spinning like a whirling dervish trying to decide what will suit us best.

Satan will win, because he is telling us what we want to hear, and he has magnificent specimens of manhood helping to spread his lies. (Consider the Beast of Revelation.)

God, to spread His truth, conceals His Truth by utilizing a Nazarene, and Galilean fishermen, and tax collectors, blind ex-Pharisees, and prostitutes, and demon possessed men (Legion). He uses the lowest of the low to bring His Message from on High.

"My husband is a publisher of a world-wide magazine and he said he is going to start publishing articles proving what your doctor said about cancer is correct. He said he is having a hard time finding information to back up what we believe, but he is good at finding things that don't exist. Pretty soon the whole world will know what we believe. Wouldn't it be wonderful if nobody had to have operations or take medicine again?"

"My father is an important business man. He has lots of money and a whole bunch of people working for him. He also owns the big new church in the middle of town and he says he is going to get them to start preaching about pet heaven. I'll bet after a while the whole town will know what we already know. Won't that be great?"

"Un huh. And maybe someday we'll be famous because we started this religion."

Traditions in the making.

Traditionalism is the making of a religion out of a tradition.

Now, who would do that? Who would take a tradition, that was based on a fable, that started out as a fantasy, and turn it into a religion?

Have you ever heard of the "Traditions of the Elders" Did you happened to run across the term "Humanism," or "Evolution," or "Est," or "Buddhism," or a myriad of other beliefs that started out as a corrupted germ of an idea and matured into a huge mangled mustard tree?

It's easy to stand back and criticize others for their ridiculous beliefs. In fact, it is even fun at times, and it bolsters our opinion about ourselves and our own beliefs - as long as the ones we are talking to happen to hold our own corrupted beliefs.

"But we're not like them. Our beliefs come from the very Word of God!"

No, our beliefs come from a multitude of people's interpretation of the very Word of God.

Is the Word of God True and correct?

Absolutely.

Is our interpretation of the Word of God correct?

Not by a long shot.

As evidence of this, I offer thousands of cults, denominations and religions who base their Doctrines (teachings) on the very same Book.

And not one of them is right.

One may be correct in one area, and be way off base in others. And another might be correct in another area, and out in left field for all the rest.

It's part of the Parable system of the Bible. God hides bits and pieces of Truth throughout His Church, then allows them to conceal it with Fantasies and Fables.

It's rather like treasuring a shiny, gold plated plastic ring, while disregarding the tarnished old solid gold nugget.

God's purpose is a straight line that does not vary. But He has displayed it to us like an Easter egg hunt, with a bunch of painted rocks thrown in for our pleasure.

The question, at this point (if you have read this far) may well be: "Who made you ruler over God's knowledge? And even if I agree with any part of what you say, which I'm not saying I do, why should I believe you any more than I do all the others commentators I read? You're just an upstart nobody with no credentials and a lousy history. There's no reason in the world I should believe you."

I agree. I'm just one selected to tell you of your cancer.

And that is why you should read what I have to say, take it with a grain of salt, and present it to the Holy Spirit for editing.

REFERENCES

4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (1Tim 1:)

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Rom 1:)

1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2Tim 4:)

7But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1Tim 4:)

9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:)

16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2Pet 1:)

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)

7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mark 7:)

8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Col 2:)

6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (2Thes 3:)

17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. (1Tim 6:)

14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker: (2Tim 2:)

6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. (Isaiah 64:)

13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isa 28:13)

4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (Isa 66:4)

9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Mat 13:4-15)

Tumbleweed

Easter Bunny

Easter Bunny

16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:)

When you were a very small child you believed in the Easter Bunny. I have little doubt but that you also believed in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause and goblins under your bed.

Why did you believe in these? Is it because they are real? Of course not. Now you know they are not real, nor were they real when you firmly believed in them.

Then why did you believe in them?

Did you believe in them because you saw them?

Or did you believe in them because you were told they were real?

Of course one reason you believed is because you saw them for yourself. You might have seen them after you believed, but having seen them, or at least the effects of their presence convinced you they were real.

Did you ever see Santa Clause? Surely you did. Not only did you see Santa, but you sat in his lap, and received the toys Santa brought you. No one could convince you that Santa was not real, because you met him for yourself.

Did you ever see the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny? I doubt it. You saw pictures of the Easter Bunny. You saw the colored eggs he left hidden in the grass. You saw the quarter (or whatever) the Tooth Fairy left you. These were evidence to you that they existed.

But these are not the reason you believed. Although you met Santa, you also saw that he had wires holding up his beard and the tip of a pillow hanging beneath his coat. You also saw that Santa looked just like, and sounded just like your father or your Uncle George. If it was just a matter of evidence, you would not have believed in Santa or the Easter Bunny.

So if it wasn't evidence that convinced you, why did you believe?

You believed because you were told that Santa and the Easter Bunny were real.

Of course there were those (probably your older friends or siblings) who told you that these were not real, but you continued to believe anyway.

Why?

Because you were told they do exist by someone you trust; someone you knew would not lie to you:

your parents.

While you were being taught that the Easter Bunny was real, you were also being taught about God, and about Jesus, and about the Holy Ghost.

What kind of a picture did your immature mind form of God? Was He a giant man in a beard who sits on a cloud somewhere in the sky? Was He a gentle Grandpa waiting for you to die so you could come up to His cloud and sit on His lap? Was He a mean old man just waiting for you to make a mistake so He could send you to a fiery furnace forever?

And Jesus, what sort of image did you form of Him? Was Jesus a kindly man who loved to tell children's stories and feed lots of people? Was Jesus a man all beat up and hanging on a cross somewhere in a foreign land? Was Jesus a man who died and came back to life like some sort of zombie in the movies?

And the Holy Ghost; was He some mysterious spook that no one understood and that floated around Heaven somewhere? Was He like a creepy ghost that likes to play tricks on people and scare them while they're sleeping? Was He like Casper, able to float through people and see inside them, reading their thoughts and making them do things they shouldn't do?

Children try to understand who they are, and to learn about the world they live in.

Unfortunately those who are to teach them who they are, why they are born, their purpose in life and what they should believe; are also teaching them about Santa and the Easter Bunny.

Of course we might assume that in church these children would learn the Truth, at least they would learn the Truth about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. That would be our assumption. But in fact the very ones teaching them about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit set up a Christmas tree in the church and provides them with presents that Santa Clause supposedly brought them.

What is a child to believe? And what happens with all that "knowledge" the child formed during his or her Formative Years that we say is so important and so difficult to adjust when we mature?

Though unwittingly by all involved, those we trusted were teaching us not to trust them, nor to believe anything we are supposed to believe by those very people we trusted to tell us the truth. Meanwhile, those who we disbelieved when we were young because they were telling us something different than what those we trusted were telling us, we later learned had been telling us the truth. So now, that we have learned not to believe those in a position of trust; who is it we turn to for the "truth" but those who are the least likely to recognize the "Truth" themselves.

So, now that you, being older and beyond all this, having learned the "Truth," what are you telling your children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren?

From childhood we learn not to trust those in a position of trust. We also learn not to believe anything, especially anything we have not experienced ourself. And those things we think we believe, in actuality we do not.

We have been taught that Nero was the Emperor of Rome. We believe that, don't we? Surely we do.

But how can we believe? Have we ever seen Nero? In fact, have we ever seen Rome? Of course not. Yet we "believe" in Nero and in Rome.

We believe in Nero the same way we believed in the Easter Bunny. All we have is the word of some books written by "experts" that say there is evidence that Nero and Rome existed.

Yet we believe. Not really. We do not "believe" in Nero or in Rome, any more than we can "believe" that there are other solar systems floating around in space.

Some people believe in extra-terrestrial beings. They believe in the same way you and I believe in Nero.

Heaven's Gate was a group of people who believed Jesus was coming for them in a space ship. In preparation for their departure, they committed suicide. These people believed. How can we know they believed? Because their actions leave little doubt about how firmly they believed.

"Believe" is a verb. And a verb is an action word. To say we believe in something is to say we are acting on that belief. If we are not acting on our belief, it is not belief, but acceptance.

Acceptance is not an action word. Acceptance is a passive occurrence. If we accept something, we take it as our own without doing anything about it. For instance we can accept a gift, or a compliment, or a suggestion, and it not change our life or opinion in any way.

Belief, on the other hand, requires a change of heart, a redirection of our behavior. Nero was the Emperor of Rome, not in our belief, but in our acceptance. Whether Nero existed or not, whether Rome ever was a reality make not the slightest difference to us. If history proves that neither of these "facts" are true, we might at the most shrug our shoulder and continue munching on potato chips.

When we believed in Santa Clause it was a difficult transition we had to make in order to no longer believe. We had to fight within ourselves whether we wanted to release that believe and conform our belief system to what we are told is "mature," or hold on to what has carried us through life up to that point.

Along with the release of our belief in Santa Clause we had to deal with our release in the confidence we held for those we trusted. We had to disregard whatever instructions we had been given by our parents, our pastor, the cop on the corner who told us about Santa's reindeer, and the news media who reported updates on Santa's whereabouts.

Once the child has made the transition from belief to non-belief, their confidence in their belief system diminishes. Having been deceived, the child now knows that he or she is gullible and will not accept at face value any "Truth" being presented to them.

Yet, we as humans have a need for some form of Belief. We do not feel complete merely accepting the world, we want to know there is Truth out there some where.

Into this need for belief comes the con man, the ad agencies, the cults, the Jim Jones', the Hitlers. People need to cling to something, and be lead by some one. And those looking to do the leading are very often those we should least follow.

We are told that we should follow Jesus. Who is Jesus? Again, is Jesus that man who tells weird stories, was killed on a cross, and rose from the ground like some ghost? Who is Jesus?

And what about the Holy Ghost the Bible talks about? We learned long ago not to believe in ghosts; now here the church is telling us that we are to follow one around?

It makes no sense.

And we are told we are to "Believe" in Jesus and the Holy Ghost. Yet we learned long ago not to believe in anything we have not experienced ourselves.

A dilemma.

So we "Believe." We believe in Jesus and the Holy Ghost in the same way we believe in Nero; in the same way we believed in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny.

There is a man down the street. I don't know that much about the man, but I believe in him. Why do I believe in him? Because I've met the man.

There's another man who lives down another street I know fairly well. I know he is a nice man, who cares about his family, who works as a mechanic, and who goes to a local church. I believe I can say I not only believe in the man, but I kind of know the man.

I have a friend. I've known him for some time. I know a great deal about him. I can say I not only believe in him, but I know him as well.

I believe I exist. The fact that I exist is probably one of my strongest beliefs. The reason for my strong belief is because of my close acquaintance with myself. I know a great deal about myself. There is still a lot I don't know about who I am, but I am being taught these things day-by-day.

The better I know someone, or something, and the more experience I have with them; the more I believe in them or it. Without that experience I am unable to believe, but am left with only the option to accept.

We are told in the church that we are "Believers" because we have said a few words and taken a bath. That is rather like saying I am a world-class swimmer because I have read a book about swimming and dunked myself in a pool.

"Belief" is an action word. "Knowing" someone requires spending time with them and letting them tell you about themself.

If you are a "Believer" you are doing something (in fact according to the Bible you are doing everything) about that belief. If you are a Christian you are in constant fellowship with your Lord, and you are being led by His Holy Spirit.

If you are one who has the words of belief, without the Belief itself; then you are not a "Believer," but an "acceptor" of the Word. You are not a doer of the Word, but one who passively sits back and waits to see if what you "believe" turns out to be true; or if it turns out to be just another Easter Bunny fairy tale.

References

22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:)

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:)

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Mat 7:)

23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Rev 2:)

24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Mat 16:)

11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:)

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3:)

10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:)

Tumbleweed

Ch-ch-Changes

Ch-ch-ch- Changes

6For I am the LORD, I change not; (Mal 3:)

It looks to me as if the dog has finally recognized his tail and has begun to chase it.

At the time Paul was writing his epistles, the church was already on the road to corruption and had begun to split apart before his eyes. Paul had this to say about denominations:

10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (1Cor 1:)

And wolves were already at work picking their way through the flock:

28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:)

This should be no surprise to Paul or any of us since Jesus warned His disciples about just such an occurrence:

2Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:)

In fact, hundreds of years before this, God through Jeremiah warned us of the events of today:

1Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. 2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely. 3O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. 4Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God. 5I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. 6Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. (Jer 5:)

And again Jesus established it for our times:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:)

Then God through Zechariah had this to say about shepherds who desert their flock:

17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zech 11:)

In the beginning of the Church there were no divisions or shadow of turning (back to the flesh, carnality, because in the beginning there were but the 12 Apostles being fully led by the Holy Spirit. Then the church began to grow, and with it came the wolves, just as there were Egyptians who tagged along after the Israelites, and just as Simon the sorcerer looked to get in on the "magic" aspects of Christianity.

Man wants to be carnal and still believe he can be accepted into Heaven, that is, be "saved." There are many, many ways and degrees of change different people will accept, and those he does not accept he tries to get around by changing the rules. Some people like to feel "religious" and to feel like they have "worked" their way to Heaven by performing rituals and making sacrifices. That's ok. If it makes them feel better about themself, have at it. Does God accept these works? Of course not. He only accepts the work He performed on the cross. All our works are like filthy rags.

Since God did all the work Himself, many people like to believe that there is nothing they have to do, so therefore are saved forever without having to do anything at all; that is, they are saved by "Grace Alone." That's fine. Again, if it makes you feel good, have at it. Does God accept this attitude? Take a fresh look at the parable of the unfruitful servant (Mat 25:28).

Some people figure that everybody is saved whether they are a Christian or not. That's fine. It's also fine to think you have another chance at life because of reincarnation.

In other words, it makes no difference what you believe or try to do, it all comes out the same - you're going to die. Man came from dust, and that's where he is headed. Religion is just an imaginary tool to make us think we can do it our own way and still cheat the Angel of Death.

After the beginning of the church, wolves came from everywhere and from every belief and society in order to join the Church, which was the going thing of the day. Therefore many different attitudes, convictions and philosophies were added to the church doctrines in order that these people might feel at home and that their former life of study and convictions hadn't been a waste. To counter these "heresies," the churches had to hold conventions where they tried to weed out those doctrines that were too far out in left field to be accepted.

Eventually, after Christianity became the "State Religion" it became what is known as "Catholic," that is "Universal" incorporating many of the religions of the many lands where it now had power. This is why we have acceptable rituals of pagan origin like trees on the supposed birth of Jesus, and Easter eggs and bunnies on the day of Jesus' resurrection.

So from early on, compromises were made by the church in order to keep people "in the fold."

With but one accepted religion, and with the Governmental powers behind the church leaders, it was easy to force everyone to do what the head of the church wanted - especially since that "head" was acclaimed to be the only spokesman of God.

Over time, with no competition, the church slid further and further from the reality of the Gospel. Until the Middle Ages where there began to be people who challenged the Powers that Be. Many of these challengers lost their heads. Others, like Luther, were ousted and persecuted, which gave them power and a degree of authority.

Some actually opposed the church and wanted to break away from it altogether. Others, like Luther did not want to break way or form a new church, but rather wanted to get the church back on track.

Either way, the followers of these "Martyrs" did what they wanted to do under the name of whoever they decided to follow, and the Reformation had begun. First of these were the Lutherans, who were (though they might not like the title) the first "Protestants."

Now we have the beginning of a dog pack set free, with mutts running off in all directions, each digging their own little hole in the shade in which to settle.

These segments developed strong attitudes and traditions and doctrines, each trying to surpass the other in religiosity and sanctimony. Even the Catholic church, now having competition, began to tighten up its borders and behave itself more properly.

Little by little, the Protestants in particular, started to feel the strains of individuality as their congregates wanted to remain religious, therefore "saved," but at the same time "do their own thing." For the most part, at that time, their "own thing" was relatively mild, like believing that Jesus was not all God, or wearing of certain apparel and the like. It did not often involve the actual breaking of solid commandments. But in any case, those who disagreed with the strong stance of the church broke off and formed almost identical images of the Mother church it came out of with but a slight change in the name.

This has been the pattern for many centuries. Even the Catholic church has felt the fragmentation process.

But the main body of the churches have held a strong line on their original concepts, whatever that might be.

In the past century there have been what historians call "Latter Rains" where a strong outpouring of the Holy Spirit has been felt in many quarters. When it rains, it rains on all, not just the Christians.

Many new religious movements were formed out of these rains, like the Pentecostal and the Evangelicals as well as many big name ministers such as Billy Graham and Oral Roberts to name but a few. Revivals were plentiful and healings were happening, and both were highly sought after.

These are but a few of the "recognized and approved" movements that came out of the Latter Rains. There were others as well, not so well received by the "decent" Christian community. And since these "new arrivals" did not fit in with acceptable doctrine, they were called "cults" to keep them separate from the "Good" churches. The Mormons and the Adventists are but a couple of the churches that were formed at this time. Their efforts were not to be different, oddly enough, but rather to reestablish what they saw to be the original church that the Apostles had founded.

Up until fairly recently we had essentially three solid bases of Theology, all calling themselves "Christian;" the Catholics, the Protestants, and those we call "Cults." Of course their were many other churches as well ranging from the very conservative to the very liberal, and often with a name sounding very similar to some "Mainline" denomination.

But the Catholic stayed very Catholic, the Methodists stayed very Methodical, and the Pentecostals remained very Penticostalish, and on and on. Doctrine and allowed behavior in these churches remained fairly hard and fast, not wavering.

Then we begin to hear that the firm, no-holds-barred Catholic Church who is so certain that all those who are not as they are are bound for hell (this being especially so with the recent announcement by the new Pope), has not been so squeaky-clean as they have been letting on to be. And in fact, these abuses, we find, have been going on for a long time, and when they were discovered, they were overlooked as if they were actually regarded as acceptable behavior by the heads of the churches.

It appears that the Catholic Church had found its tail some time ago but has been concealing the fact.

Now we find the church that we consider as the beginning of it all, the one we think of when we speak of "Protestant," the Lutheran church, has hit the skids. When you read what the Lutherans have traditionally stood for, you wonder if it might not have been easier to be a Catholic than a Lutheran. Of course over the years the Lutheran church has become much the same as all the others, but their stance was still considered as solid rock. After all, Luther was all about following the Bible to the letter, wasn't he?

I guess the letters on the Lutheran Bible have begun to smear, as it has in all the Bibles of other denominations as well, because they certainly read the words differently now.

Yesterday, as I was dumping some cans in a recycle bin I found a recent paper (I don't watch TV, listen to radio, or read newspapers or magazines, so I am certainly not one to consult for newsy stuff) and it had an article that starts like this:

"In a ground breaking decision, members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's national assembly passed a resolution Saturday urging church authorities to refrain from, or to use restraints in disciplining homosexual pastors in committed same-sex relationships. Advocates hailed the action as a historic OPENING OF THE DOOR that could lead to full participation by gays and lesbians. ...The ELCA is the nation's largest Lutheran denomination." (Emphasis mine.)

"Opening the door."

If it appears that I am critical of gays because of this article, you are wrong, and what's more, you are completely missing the point. My purpose in this article, and in almost all my articles and studies is to point out two thing:

The fact that the churches are all distorted and corrupt from the ground upward with distorted and contrived doctrines that keep people from following the full Gospel, and:

The need for Pastors to get off their high-horse and stop thinking they are the "Good Shepherd" with the only True Message. That Pastors and Theologians need to understand that they are to leave their opinions and egos at the door when it comes to serving God's flock (and that it is GOD'S flock, and not their's). And that it's their job to feed the flock the Word, and the Word says to listen to the Holy Spirit for their instruction, not to the teacher who thinks he's God's spokesman. That the Pastor should be making sure his congregates truly have received the Holy Spirit, and that they are making sure those sheep which he is in charge of listens to the Holy Spirit. And that Pastors stop holding the sheep down in the thickets instead of encouraging them to run the race with everything they've got the way the Bible clearly tells them they should.

I hope I made myself clear. I want no one listening to what I have to say if it appears in any way that I am leading them anywhere other than to a tight, personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, thereby Jesus and God the Father. If you have the Holy Spirit, you will be thirsting for all He has to show you and you will need no one to tell you what to, or what not to do. In fact, you will be able to (and probably should) instruct your Pastor!

Without the Holy Spirit Christianity is just another "religion."

The churches are changing, doing an about-face on their doctrine, allowing and encouraging the very same things they have told their people to strictly avoid in the past.

God doesn't change, but the churches surely are! A question - when were the churches wrong? In the past? Or in their present direction?

How long do you think it will be until that Pastor of yours begins to teach you things completely contrary to what he has taught you in the past?

Consider how the message in the churches changed under Hitler.

Consider how our schools that once taught from the Bible now forbids them. And prayer?

Changes.

Consider how Canada, the land I always considered ahead of our own in many ways, has made preaching sin against the law punishable by imprisonment.

Consider how California is trying to do the same.

Abortion? The Media? The Governments? What next?

How do you think this is going to influence the church doctrines and your pastor's preaching when this law becomes nationally, or even world wide?

That won't happen, you say?

Maybe you're right.

But are you still so certain that you want to stake your Eternal destiny on what your preacher says instead of seeking the Holy Spirit and listen to what God tells you?

Tumbleweed

Articles of Faith

Articles of Faith

25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

When you enter any church, you will see hanging on the wall a list of what is called: "Articles of Faith." This list may very likely begin with, and have planted before each article the phrase: "We Believe...."

We believe?

Who believes?

Who is the "we" that these articles of faith are referring to? Is it you? Is it me?

It is you or me if we decide to attend that church, because whoever attends that church becomes the "we" that the articles of faith are speaking of.

"What do you believe?"

"Um, ah, I'm not sure. Let me go ask my Pastor."

When you stand before the Great White Throne and the Lord asks you what you believe; will you have to say: "Wait a minute, Your Lordship. I know that one. I heard it in Sunday School."

Do you think this is the kind of "Belief" that Jesus was referring to that will entitle you to Eternal Life?

Articles of Faith you might assume would be the same from one church to another - as long as they all are following the same Book and the same Lord.

You would think so. But it just ain't so.

There are many different Articles of Faith throughout the church systems. In the Catholic, the Anglican and the Episcopalian churches they believe in what is called the Nicene Creed and the shorter Apostles' Creed, the longer of which is recited frequently in order to make sure church members remember full well what they believe, if they remember nothing else.

Protestant churches are not quite so blatantly obvious with their Articles of Faith. In other words, they do not prepare you as well for the Great White Throne as do the churches mentioned above. In fact, many, if not most churches of the Protestant persuasion do not have as clear-cut beliefs as do the Catholics, having no Catechism which you may memorize and feel secure in your beliefs, thereby your standing with the church and with God. Should you happen to miss a Sunday sermon or a Bible study class, you may well have missed an important doctrine that will be required to get you into Heaven.

Of course you could read the Bible and learn what God says, but that very likely will not help much in learning what your particular church teaches.

And lets say you happened to be out of town for a week or two, and your denomination does not have a church in that location. So you attend a church that seems similar to yours instead. And you learn from them a doctrine or two. Chances are you will look like a real dummy and a dreadful sinner when you get back to your own church and spout off what you learned during your vacation.

Articles of Faith.

What are Articles of Faith anyway? And why are they needed in the second place? Let's look at some Articles of Faith.

ARTICLES OF FAITH

In general Articles of Faith are the fundamental beliefs of a church or organization boiled down to the bare bone. All churches have their Articles of Faith, including those referred to as "Cults." And what makes one church group a recognized church, and another a cult?

A difference in Doctrine.

It is difficult to look at a particular church's Articles of Faith to see if is a cult or not. Most Articles of Faith are almost identical. In fact, often if you don't read them carefully, they will appear to be just the same.

For instance, if you take a look at the Articles of Faith of the Church of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) they appear to be the same as the Fundamentalist's, only more precise. The major difference being their acceptance of extra-Scriptural books such as the Book of Mormon.

In fact, if you were to read the Articles of Faith of Islam you might think they belonged to a Christian church. In brief, they are: 1.One God; 2. Angels; 3. Prophets; 4. Scriptures; 5. Predestination; and 6. The Day of Judgment and the Akhirah or afterlife.

[Prophets refer to Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jacob, David, Salomon and so on all the way until Jesus and Muhammad. The word "scriptures" refers to the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospels, and the Qur'an.]

Are you surprised? I'll bet you assumed that all cults and other religion's Articles of Faith would show up like a clean spot on a muddy pig.

Not so.

But remember - these Articles of Faith are but labels on the front door of the church, or banner hanging over a vendor at a circus identifying what they claim to sell. Once you are in the building, you are likely to discover that you have only seen the clean, unpainted face of a clown.

Much like beholding the face of your lovely bride in contrast to her morning-after look ten years later.

For instance, where one church might allow a person to sin all they want and still make it to the Pearly Gates; another may likely condemn you to hell if you smoke, drink sodas or coffee, or watch TV. In fact, if you try real hard, you can even find those who will shun you or cast you out if you or a family member gets sick or dies because illness is a sign of not having faith.

"All that's fine and dandy. But I don't belong to any of them there cult whatchamacallits. My church is just a plain 'ol down-to-earth, old time religion church. All we believes is the God's honest Gospel. None of that articles stuff you've been yaking about."

Let's see if that is so. Let's take a look at the Fundamentalist's Articles of Faith.

But before we do, let's look at what a Fundamental church is.

The term "Fundamentalism" has been used as a definition for a group of churches that seem to be different from the others that are not called Fundamental. For example, one church might be considered as Fundamental, and another Evangelical. But really the division lines between the two are blurred to the point of being nonexistent. Or consider the division between the Methodists and the Baptists, or the Pentecostal. There are differences, to be sure; but the differences are minute in comparison to their similarities.

In the past, for those of you old enough to remember, there were two singing groups that were quite to very popular. The first of these was the Beetles. Their music was distinct and different. You were either a Beetles fan, or you were not. Chances are you were.

Then came along a group that parodied the Beetles called the Monkeys. Again, either you were a fan of the Monkeys or you were not. But the likelihood of your being a fan of both of these groups is very remote.

Both of these groups were very similar. Yet there was no way you could confuse them, either in their singing or their acting. They were the same, yet very different.

Such is the confusion between the churches; and the differences and similarities are growing by the hour as old, established churches take on modern ways, and all churches break off and form offshoots of the same church under a different banner.

My point is, though all of these churches may go under a different title, they all hold to the Fundamentalist's Creed unless they have ventured off the path so far as to be called a cult.

FUNDAMENTAL FAITHS

Here, for your perusal, are the Fundamentals, that is, the Fundamental Articles of Faith. Check them out and determine if you are now, or ever have been a "Fundamentalist."

1. The Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God and as such is infallible, in the original autographs.

2. There is one God manifest in three persons, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity received a corporeal body, was born of a virgin [Mary didn't remain a virgin, she was married and had other children. This is sometimes added to differentiate a church from Catholicism], he lived a sinless life, performed miracles, was crucified, he was resurrected from the dead. He was seen by many over the next 30 days, then ascended into heaven.

3. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, He indwells a person who, of his/her own free will accepts the freely offered gift of salvation, that is, payment for their sin (Jesus' death satisfies the requirement of a righteous God for a perfect blood sacrifice for sins committed).

4. The resurrection of Jesus prefigures the resurrection of the believer after Jesus' return.

5. Very often you will find an added statement indicating that because of Jesus' death on the cross, all who repent of their sins, and call upon the Lord are saved with nothing more to be added. This is termed "saved by Grace Alone, and not by works." Most Fundamental churches have this, but not all.

So, are you a Fundamentalist?

Let's say you are, for the sake of the continuance of this study; at least concerning the first 4 points, because from here it gets tricky.

Now, as a Fundamentalist you have to decide if you are a Calvinist or an Arminianist; the primary difference between the two is a belief in "Grace Alone," or Grace plus Works; as well as Predestination, which is basically if God knows ahead of time who will and who will not be saved.

That is putting the difference into a very tight nutshell. In actuality there have been so many break-offs and shades of gray established that an artist would go insane trying to find the blurry dividing lines. Yet these impossible dividing lines are what keeps one church from being a part of, or accepting that which another church teaches.

CULTS

"Do you belong to a cult?"

"Of course not! I'm a (Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, Christian Scientist, Bahai, etc, etc, ad nauseam)."

Who is going to admit they belong to a cult? Isn't a cult some kind of deviate form of worship similar to idolatry? Surely it is a sinful practice that is going to send all its adherents straight to the pit of hell without passing go. At least that is what I have always considered a cult to be from what I have read and heard from what preachers preach.

Now, I am sure we all know just what a cult is and that none of us would ever belong to such a thing. But just for the fun of it, let's take a look at what a cult is according to the dictionary.

According to "Oxford" (whoever that is, I don't have Webster handy) a cult is; Cult - 1. Ritualistic religious system. 2. A devotion to a person or thing.

Hmmm. Not quite what I had expected. How about you? "A religious system." That sounds like every church and every religion I have ever heard of. And I suppose that a religion without a religious system wouldn't be a religion at all. Would it?

And as for a "devotion to an individual," I should suppose that a church without a devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ wouldn't be much of a Christian church at all. Would it?

I guess I belong to a cult. How about you?

Strange how churches and, preachers and theologians have a way of taking a word and giving it a meaning it really doesn't have merely by flooding it with words of their own. Isn't it?

DENOMINATION OF CULTS

So, as it appears to me the only real differences to be considered are the differences in denomination. And if you expect me to delve into such a thing as this, you are barking up a high tree because I see no fruit whatever to be plucked from such a venture.

It used to be, long ago, that the difference between one denomination and another was fairly easy to spot, almost as much so as entering the door of a Catholic church and making the sign of cross, and rolling on the floor in a Pentecostal church.

But any more the differences are so fine, yet so extreme, with churches splitting and moving into the world system of beliefs. It would be like trying to coral an army of ants being chased by an anteater. Churches range from those who praise the Lord to the sky and where the Spirit is felt on the streets outside, to those where a Bible is not even allowed in the door and praise is a singular, quiet affair.

I think such a job, that is defining church divisions, would require a person with nothing better to do than examine in minute detail that which is unnecessary and only confuses at best.

I will leave that to the Theologians.

References

6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, (Mark 7:)

24Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. (Lev 18:)

Tumbleweed

Rightly Judging

Rightly Judging

15Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Tim 2:15)

"Rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

Jesus is the Word, and to divide the Word He supplies a two-edged sword which "Proceeds from His mouth," we are told. (John 1:1-14; Rev 2:12-16; 19:13)

I read that to mean we are to use the Word (Sword) so Jesus can interpret His Own Words. And to aid in this, He has sent His Holy Spirit to instruct us and guide us.

In order to divide, we must also judge. And in order to judge properly and fairly, we must listen to all sides being presented. After hearing all that everyone has to say, including the misconceptions and out-'n-out lies, we must consult the Book of Rules and Laws which contain restrictions and applications that may be applied according to our judgment.

And in order to be a judge, we must be educated in the field of law, and therefore acquainted with that which the law of the land dictates. In our case, Heaven.

Not all judges judge rightly. Jesus told us of one such judge in Luke 18. Here He tells of a judge who cared for no one but himself, and only judged fairly when it suited his own purpose.

I have myself had such a situation where I was not judged fairly. Long ago I received a ticket because my car smoked. The judge, who had a son killed in the war, could only see my beard and assumed I was a draft dodger, though in reality I had served in the Army. I was never allowed to say a word, but was judged harshly with vicious and verbal attacks by the judge.

Jesus and the Apostles, as well as many in the early Church, and even in Churches around the world today, have suffered cruelly by unjust judgement.

Whatever church, whatever denomination you belong to, you are told very distinctly what to believe, and what not to believe. You are told that you are not to listen to anyone else's opinion, especially those on the "banned" list which are often defined as "cults." To do otherwise is to invite chastisement or shunning, and even expulsion. In the past it could even mean death.

The churches (and even the cults) can not be entirely condemned for such practices. Often their intent is to protect their members from being influenced by well-spoken people who will lead their lambs astray. The church feels their flock is not secure enough in the Word to discern the difference between right and wrong.

And they are often correct in thinking such - because they have kept their lambs bottle-fed for fear of losing them if they try to mature them into strong sheep.

But that does not concern us, we are tired of milk and are looking for the Meat of the Word.

Here we will not be confined in our belief. I plan on having no walls whatever in my investigation of the Word. One reason for this is that many of the "cults" have been given a Word of Truth that they ran with and built walls of false doctrine around in order to keep it as their own, and to protect its "validity." I hope to shovel away the manure in order to find the pearl.

And the cults are not the only ones who have buried their Word of Truth under a mountain of False Doctrine, which will need to be shoveled away.

Another reason for searching the cults for information is that each and every denomination and cult has worked diligently to find the very best evidence with which to prove their point of view. I believe it would be foolish of me to ignore such efforts. I believe that after such an investigation, if nothing else, I will have found the best evidence why such a doctrine or theory can not be considered in my findings.

HEADLINE NEWS; GOD KILLS MOSES

18And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. 22And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. 24And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. (Ex 4:)

In order to whet your appetite for this study, I thought I would start off with something easy and often, in my estimation, misinterpreted.

This is a difficult passage to interpret at best. And there have been a variety of ways it has been attempted, none that I have seen that I agree with or that makes sense.

Remember to keep in mind the 5 rules of Hermeneutics (interpretation).

1. CONTEXT (including the Theme of the Scripture)

2. WORDS (including the Hebrew and Greek meaning)

3. GRAMMAR (Watch for twisting meanings toward Doctrine)

4. BACKGROUND (What did the Scripture mean to them.)

5. UNITY

The verses concerning the circumcision seems to have been brought out of nowhere, almost as if they were not, and could not have possibly been there in the first place. One might believe that they were added by some frustrated scribe in order to confuse us.

The interpretations I have seen have not been so brash as to say what I just did, but it appears obvious to me that they were indeed frustrated by these verses.

Common interpretation states that God met Moses at the inn and was going to kill him. Why? Well, some say it was because Moses was not circumcised, so therefore he must die. But his wife, in order to save her husband, circumcised her son instead as a representative of Moses' fulfilling that law.

Interesting, I suppose, but let's look at those rules of Interpretation and see if this fits.

1. Context. What is the Theme of this passage of Scripture? What has God been talking all this time to Moses about? Did He at any time say that Moses had better get circumcised or he would die?

I don't think so. As I read this and other surrounding Scripture God had a timetable to go by that He, Himself had set up. He had ordained and trained just one man to fulfill His purposes, and that was Moses. God had just finished telling Moses what He was to do and how he was to do it, and sent him on his way to fulfill that purpose.

I can't see God giving an important message to a messenger, then killing the messenger before the message is delivered. That being so, let us look for another explanation.

What else was God talking to Moses about? Wasn't He telling Moses that he was to deliver a message to Pharaoh that his firstborn would die? Could that be a clue?

I believe so.

Rules 2 and 3 of interpretation are difficult to apply here, because all the "He" and "Him" that is used could apply to just about anyone except the women. And only one woman was mentioned in the Scripture.

Our assumption would be (and is) that the "he" is Moses. And I would assume that to be so as well.

But is Moses the "he" that God was going to kill? I strongly doubt it.

Let's take a look at rule 4, the Background.

According to Gen 17:10-26 every Hebrew male was to be circumcised as a sign of their purification and sanctification (set apart, made holy) before God. This was to be accomplished on the eighth day after their birth. Along with this the first born male (to break forth from the womb) was to be presented as a "Sacrifice" unto the Lord. In other words, the firstborn male, of any nature or kind, be it person or animal, was to belong to God. (Num 3:12-13; Ex 13:12-16)

All animals were to be so sacrificed.

In other words, the first born male was to die.

But God made provisions for such an occurrence whereby the firstborn male could not only be sacrificed to the Lord, but live as well. This provision is called a "ransom."

With this picture, and seeing as how Moses was brought up as an Egyptian, we would assume that he would not be particularly aware of the importance of this practice.

That would be our assumption. But that assumption does not allow for the facts.

Moses was placed in a basket at the age of three months. That is three months after his birth by a Hebrew mother, is it not? His mother and father were Hebrew and fully aware of the practice of circumcision. That would mean almost three months before being placed in the river he would have been circumcised.

Another bit of information that might help prove this is the statement made by Pharaoh's daughter, that the child was a Hebrew. How would she have known that, I wonder.

And as for knowledge about Hebrew customs, do you recall who Moses' nurse was? (Ex 2:)

If you still have doubts, consider that Aaron was older than his brother Moses, therefore born before him, yet there was not a thing said about him needing to be circumcised. And he was God's High Priest.

I find little doubt but that Moses was not the one uncircumcised. Then if not Moses, then who was God going to kill?

By the context of the story, God fully intended to, and did, kill all the first born males of Egypt. This included everyone and everything that was a firstborn male in Egypt who was not "Under the Blood," and under the covenant of Abraham. And what was the sign of Abraham? Was it not circumcision?

This being the case, what firstborn of the Hebrews would have died along with the Egyptians?

Who was it that was circumcised?

Who is most likely to be the one God was going to kill? Do you think it was Moses?

There are two other interesting points that might be considered here as well. I can't call them facts, but of consequence none the less.

The first of these is that only one son of Moses was circumcised. My assumption would be that it was the first born for the reasons already given. By reading verse 20 it is clear that Moses took with him at least two sons because of the plural use of the word.

Moses at this time was 80 years old. He was 40 years old when he left Egypt, and presumably when he married Zipporah his wife.

Abraham, at 75 indicated that he was well past the age of childbearing. How much more so would be an 80 year old man? Besides, how long would a man wait before having his first born?

By my calculations this was not a small child that Moses' wife circumcised but rather a man of around 35 or more.

Do you find this interesting? Did it "whet your appetite?"

I hope so. It sure did mine.

This has been a tiny and insignificant piece of Scripture we have dealt with here. Most are going to be very arduous and complicated, and will take a long, long time to formulate and find references for.

And some will be, in my estimation, very important, such as the Rapture of the Church, and the true identity of Satan.

So please bear with me.

Tumbleweed